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Kai'Sa Build Guide by

[12.12] Beagle's ULTIMATE Diamond Kai'Sa Guide [IN-DEPTH]

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FunkyBeagle's Featured Video

Runes: Go-To Runepage

1 2 3 4

Domination

Hail of Blades

Taste of Blood

Eyeball Collection

Ultimate Hunter

Inspiration

Cosmic Insight

Biscuit Delivery

Bonus:

+10% Attack Speed
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+6 Armor

Spells:

1 2

Go-To Summoners

Exhaust

Flash

Items

Starting Items

Starting Items 2

Starting Items (Farm Lane)

Ideal First Back (AD Builds)

Early Q Evolve (Dorans Start)

Early Q Evolve (Long Sword Start)

Beagle's On-Hit Hybrid

Earliest Q Evolve

On-Hit Hybrid Core

NEW On-Hit Hybrid

On-Hit Ultra Shred Build (AP)

On-Hit Ultra Shred Core AP

On-Hit Hybrid Ultra Shred

Full AP Asssasin (3 Points in Q > W Max)

Full AP Assassin Core

Full AP Assassin (Transendence + Gathering Storm)

Turbo Snowballing Korean Lethality Build

Early Q Evolve (Important)

Lethality Build Core (In-Order)

Turbo Snowballing Korean Lethality Build

Unkillable Wing Waifu Set

Early Q Evolve

Wing Waifu Core

Unkillable Wing Waifu Full Buiild

Unkillable Wing Waifu Full Build 2

AD Collector Item Set

AD Collector Core

AD Collector Build (Against Squishes)

All my homies HATE Collector (PD)

Q Evolve

Kite Build Core

Full PD Kite Build Example

VS. Tanks

Prioritize LDR before IE!

Galeforce/Collector Item Set

Galeforce Route

Optional/Situational Items

Ability Order

Kai'Sa Passive Ability

Threats & Synergies

Threats

Synergies

Extreme Major Even Minor Tiny

Show All

None Low Ok Strong Ideal

Extreme Threats

Ideal Synergies

Draven

Extreme

I ALWAYS PERMA BAN DRAVEN. Not much counterplay to Draven as a whole, your support matchup matters the most in this one. Take Exhaust into this lane.

Leona

Ideal

Leona is by far my favorite support with Kai'Sa, lots of CC which also applies you passive Plasma stacks, extremely tanky even in the early game. its really easy to play aggressive at all times and levels with Leona.

Synergies

Ideal Strong Ok Low None

Leona

Ideal

Champion Build Guide

Introduction

Hey guys. Im Beagle, Beags, whatever floats your boat. Im a current High Diamond ADC main. has been one of my personal favorites since her release in Season 8. She's one of the champs im most comfortable on, alongside and .

I overall fell in love with because of her high skill ceiling and overall great carry potential in all elos. Especially in Season 11. She also plays best with some of my favorite supports. Combine her aggressive playstyle with her high DPS output and you have yourself one hell of a carry.

If by any chance you guys have any questions, i'd love to answer them all, do OP.GG reviews and even VOD reviews to help you guys out. Please, check out my STREAM! I try to be as informative as i can and I'm trying to grow and help out all of you along the way: https://www.twitch.tv/funkybeagle

Runes Explained

Hail of Blades is an amazing aggressive rune for trading with . Pair this quick trading pattern with as well as applying 3 quick stacks of Plasma, it sets up to throw in a for maximum damage output, using her . Hail of Blades makes 's weak trading potential into something worth while, there's really no other rune that compliments her better in this current point in time.

Taste of Blood is a great rune for sustain, which wants plenty of due to her weak early game. Providing early lifesteal to our kit without the need of stacking bloodline yet is a great way to survive laning phase. Besides, there's no other rune in the row that's worth taking over .

Eyeball Collection is a rune purely for the raw adaptive stats that it gives per champion take down, it stacks up to 10 times with 1.2 ad per stack. Allowing to scale even harder than she already does.

Ultimate Hunter s now taken with the removal of . This is easily her best now, has a pretty high ultimate cooldown nowadays, ever since they nerfed it way back then. This rune makes it so its not as long at all stages of the game, making the assassin playstyle a lot more accessible considering your is up more often! Combine that with the stacks of and you're on your way to becoming and mid-to-late game monster.

Cosmic Insight is an awesome rune for Kai'Sa considering she loves to duel. Not only does this rune lower summoner spell cooldowns, like and by a minute, meaning you look around the map for fights more often. But, it also lowers cooldown of if you're going one of the Builds listed below in your games.

Biscuit Delivery is another rune that provides us with a little bit of early game help, which is exactly where struggles the most! Not only does it help us sustain through HP regeneration, but it also recovers A LOT of mana, which means you can opt to sling out spells more often to shove the wave and trade more often. against poke lanes is a STAPLE in my personal opinion.

NOTE: Keep stat shards the same every game (Attack Speed, Adaptive) and only change from Armor to Magic Resist depending on that specific lane matchup.

VS.

Lethal Tempo vs. Hail of Blades

When it comes down to vs. , its all about what the enemy team comp looks like for the most part. Are you against hard tank champs like , and , thats where comes in clutch. All of those champions i just listed take a while to cut down and kill, which means its really easy to stack up and keep it stacked which means more overall attack speed which also means MORE OVERALL DAMAGE. 's fullest potental comes out when you have an enchanter support such as or , champs that enhance your auto attack damage. Remember, Lethal Tempo is a very hard rune to get the hang of when playing it with a low range champion like .

As for , you can genuinely get away with taking it every game as is a VERY hard rune to get the hang of, especially on a low range ADC like . If they arent overly super tanky, take , trust me, it makes your laning phase WAY more tolerable.

For a more In-Depth rundown, please watch my video below. I go over the best scenarios of when to take the two runes!

In-Depth Video Explanation:

Items Explained

Beagle's On-Hit Hybrid Rundown:

So this build is BRAND new for season 12. I came hopped on PBE and tested this out immediately the second I heard of AP/Passive scaling Kai'Sa buffs and this build has been my GO TO BUILD since then. In my personal opinion, this build has some of the MOST CARRY POTENTIAL out of all the builds ive listed. From the survivability with and , the kiting potential, attack speed and on-hit from paired with makes this build the PREMIER build for currently. This is truly the build for 1V9ing.

When do I use this build?
Realistically you can get away with using this build almost every single game if you really want to. But this build truly gets its MOST VALUE when you need to kite a LOT and need some extra magic damage. But as i stated, you can go this build in all of your games if you truly want to! The MR from helps you sustain from AP mages and saves you from annoying assassins like and . Overall, this build is one of the best suited for almost every game.

When do I take Guinsoo's Rageblade?
You opt to take when you're against heavy tank/bruiser comps that tend to run at you ( , , , etc!) Basically, when you need to shred whatever's in front of you and play a front to back playstyle. That's where shines the most!

Use the video below to see me literally take inting teammates and PUT THEM ON MY BACK and completely 1v9 the game using this build.

EXAMPLE:

Full AP Assassin Rundown:

This build is on par with my On-Hit Hybrid build listed above when it comes to CARRY POTENTIAL. This build you're going a FULL AP route, not prioritizing ANY AD physical damage. Remember, this is important:WITH THIS BUILD, ALWAYS PUT 3 POINTS INTO YOUR Q AND THEN MAX YOUR W FOR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL. Its extremely important to get your max order correct as it defines this build, getting your to level 5 as quick as possible out of laning phase is important to minimize your cooldown and maximize its damage. This build is all about hitting your constantly from range for poke and then using + combo to finish them off and completely one shot them. Figure out how to do/pull off the R+W combo in the "Combos" section of the guide.

When do I use this build?
This build is FANTASTIC against ranged squishies when you have little to NO AP damage on your team. Take note that this build loses value if they have healing champs like Soraka or Senna. Or you're up against a spell shield champion like Galio. Its not UNBUILDABLE, but it's a little bit harder to pull off than typical.
Remember hitting your is absolutely MANDATORY. Its all of your damage.

In the example below, i showcase full gameplay of the AP Assassin build and show its raw potential in a high elo Diamond 1 game. Please feel free to check it out to adapt your playstyle!

EXAMPLE:

Snowballing Galeforce AD Rundown:

This build is great for SNOWBALLING your lead against RANGED SQUISHIES. to finish off kills and combo with , for easy access to your reposition and for assassination capabilities. And adding and for hard hitting burst power.

When do I use this build?
So this build is great for a decent number of scenarios. Up against and ? Maybe and ? is GREAT here as long as there's 1 tank or less on the enemy team. Using to get into range of those champs and then ulting to them is a great way to deal with them during laning phase. Once you walk out of laning phase into the midlane, thats when this build turns on once you get . You switch up your playstyle to more of a pick/assassin type and look for snipes into a fast > > combo for a quick kill. This build is all about snowballing and punishing those squishies for being out of position, so play to that!

In the example below, it's a full gameplay video of how to ACTUALLY play the build out of laning phase and punish people for making positional mistakes. Please take a look!

EXAMPLE:

AD Collector Build Rundown:

This build is a bit Outdated. Its kind of lost its touch over time, but still a viable option. build is centered around BURSTING one target at a time. It is an extremely high damage build that requires a slight lead in lane and is only viable against SQUISHY teams. This one allows you to push your lead out of lane more so than some of the other builds I've listed. The execute from makes it hard to steal kills away from you, stacking gold and enhancing your lead and damage even more.

When do I use this build?
Remember, this build is more so for killing one target at a time quickly, therefore, its ONLY good into squishy teams. If you come across a team with one tank, this build should still be viable. I use this build as an assassin type more than anything, marking a farming adc or mid-laner with and using to rush in for the quick kill. Surmounting my gold lead higher and higher. This build also allows you to push side lanes in easily, as in general, is very difficult to fight while isolated against her. This build pushes that fact even further.

In the clip below, I knew i was strong enough to 1v1 anyone on the enemy team, even the enemy who was the strongest player on their team. I ignored his damage (I DID NOT expect him to crit me there LMAO) and greeded for the turret, then proceeded to burst him down with my full combo rotation.

EXAMPLE:

I know I didnt explain every build, but i want to say that, Kai'Sa has so many different builds for certain situations. Feel free to experiment with the rest of the builds to find which you like best for what situations!

Kai'Sa's Gameplan

EARLY GAME:

Figuring out your game plan during the loading screen or champ select is crucial. Knowing 's matchups will help you in this department, but understanding what to do in specific lanes is essential.

Support picks matter most in bot lane, its just how it is. The support matchup can make or break laning phase, turning your worst matchups into more tolerable ones. For example, pit a / together against a /. Because the support matchup is more favorable towards the , cant abuse the good matchup as well as she would typically be able to. Contrary to popular belief, has an INSANE Level 1 with her passive. Meaning you can force early fights IF you have an aggressive style support that also has a great level 1 like .

If you aren't looking to fight at Level 1, has exceptional lane shove with as it does double the damage to minions BELOW 35% HP. Making it very easy to out shove the enemy laner and hit your level 2 before them. All inning at level 2 when the opponent is still level 1 is CRUCIAL! It could win you the lane altogether. Don't hesitate to punish them for being overextended and not respecting your level 2.

's trades are short, consisting of a quick flurry of autos cancelled into . Remember, Un-Evolved adds TWO stacks to your Plasma passive, therefore, if you stack your passive 3 times with 3 quick autos, and you use directly after, it will proc your passive. Keep in mind, if you wait till the 4th and final stack before using , it does even MORE damage. Do keep in mind though, it's ill advised to take use 's short trading patterns against characters ive put in the "EXTREME" threat category, as they have really good short trading patterns that simply has no chance of beating. also falls into this category.

Remember, your plan changes when it comes to playing with a caster support like . Though these champion do allow you to dish more DPS come mid game, your laning phase isn't nearly as good as it would be with a tank/engage support. The initial idea is still the same, look to use to shove for Level 2, punish them for disrespecting it. If not, farm it out, play safe and wait till you hit Level 6 power-spike, adding into your arsenal.

Using for poke isn't necessarily bad in lane, especially with caster support. But i would recommend using it scarcely when laning with an engage support like or or something similar, as is a lot of burst damage you're missing out on. Considering the cooldown in it's Un-Evolved state, it could potentially WIN or LOSE you the fight.

Rundown:

Take quick, shorty, worthy trades. Look to fight at Level 1 if the matchup at Level 1 favors you. (e.g. + vs. +) Use to shove for level 2 power spike and look to punish over extending lane opponents. Focus on farming and hitting Level 6 for even better follow up, survivability and KILL POTENTIAL with . Remember, 's laning phase is not that great, but a good support can MAKE IT something worth while.

Below, I show how effective using Level 2 to your advantage can be. I knew I was going to hit level 2 first, therefore, i pinged my Blitz in and got both of 's summoners out.

MID GAME:

Certain things change if you win or lose lane, yes. But overall, the most important thing is getting your EVOLVES for and . In all builds listed above, you get both evolves by 3 items at most.

Winning lane is obviously the goal, right? But sometimes just winning lane isn't enough, being able to snowball your lead after conquering your lane is just as important and it'll help you 1v9 your games. After winning lane, you and your support should look to help with objectives in any way, that means , , etc. With your presence, if strong enough, you'll help secure those objectives for your team. Your support should be looking to help other around the map as you farm more and more to your 3 item spike. Or you could roam together and help kill the enemy top laner and siege top tower. It's all about hitting your power spike as fast as possible and helping your team along the way.

Rundown:

After sieging bot tower, continue farming (Taking enemy/allied jungle camps, lane farm, etc.) while helping with team centered neutral objectives like and looking for any overextended laners that you and your support can take down safely WITHOUT giving out your shutdown gold. You making yourself stronger can overall help make YOUR team stronger.

LATE GAME:

Once you're in the final stretch in an attempt to close out the game. Some certain things come in to play when you're playing or any ADC at that matter. Take ADVANTAGEOUS fights with your team. That means, taking 4v2s, 5v3s, 3v1s, etc.

Alternatively, something oriented. Your late game damage is CRAZY. Simply put. That being said, you can search for SAFE picks around the map, throwing a at an unsuspecting farming ADC and using to close the gap, as 's late game ultimate has really good range. In doing so and succeeding, you set your team up in a great situation, you're able to force objectives like or . Setting them up in an ADVANTAGEOUS position, considering it's now a 5vs4 and the enemy team are the ones who have to make a move. Further increasing your chances of coming out on top by sieging Inhibitors and eventually the Nexus.

Combos

R+W Combo:

In my personal opinion, I believe, this is ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT things to master on . It surprised your opponent with burst and kills in situations you typically wouldnt be able to. Its basically a guaranteed way to land your for surprise burst and finishing power. To do it, you press W mid animation and flick your mouse cursor to the direction you'd like your to go.

EXAMPLE 1:

EXAMPLE 2:

EXAMPLE 3:

R Auto Attack Reset:

This one should be like bread and butter for you, I use it all the time. Its practically muscle memory for me and can make or break a fight for you. Dishing out damage as fast as possible is important. You're using as an auto attack reset.

I could probably find far more examples, but they're all over the place in my replays, so i found one that you may like and provided a quick presentation!

EXAMPLE 1:

EXAMPLE 2:

Fast Full Combo:

There are plenty of other things i could show, but i feel like this is the best to get started with! So this will be the last combo I show!

This is the most advanced one in the pack I've provided so far. Using all of your abilities for MAXIMUM damage output and BURST potential.

AA x3 ( Hail of Blades) > R AA Reset > W > Q

Presentation Below.

EXAMPLE:

The HIGHER your ATTACK SPEED the faster this combo comes out! Play around with what you like and master it.

Quick Final Tips

When by herself with one singular enemy, Kai'Sa's Icathian Rain does more damage as it doesn't spread around to multiple enemies, instead, focusing all the little rockets on one singular target. AVOID FIGHTING IN MINIONS WHEN POSSIBLE. Try to fight isolated as often as possible.
Much like Jinx's Zap!, Kai'Sa's Void Seeker comes out even when CC'd. Use it before hand!
Use Killer Instinct to escape over walls, doing so could save your life and not force you to use valuable summoners like Flash. Here's an EXAMPLE
Despite it being common knowledge, you can cancel evolves with Recall by timing it correctly. But did you know you could cancel it with Void Seeker and Supercharge as well? :D Come by my stream and ill teach you sometime!
Remember, Kai'Sa's level 1 is really strong. Dont forget to look to fight if the matchup favors your level 1.
Your Supercharge ghosts you. Meaning, you can walk through creeps without getting creepblocked.

Conclusion

overall is an extremely fun and rewarding champ to play (most of the time). Her skill ceiling can is high and her more in depth stuff is harder to learn but I can in all honesty say it's worth the journey!

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart if you took the time out of your day to read even some of this. I put my heart into this guide to try and help you guys get started with my favorite Void Daughter.

If you have ANY QUESTIONS regarding Kai'Sa or any ADC, please stop by my stream, the support means the WORLD to me.

Also, i do have a YOUTUBE channel as well, if you'd be willing to check out that, i have more content on there as well! My peak rank is Diamond 2 and RANK 11 in North America, both stats not the best, but at least its some credibility!

If anyone asks how to play or something, i'd appreciate it if you shared this to them and asked them to give it an upvote!

Find my social links below and once again, THANK YOU!

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